Defensive improvement isn’t a great consolation after two tough losses, but it’s something at least for the Detroit Lions, who enter the final quarter of the NFL season having lost five of their past six games.

“There was a lot more good than bad,” nose tackle Damon Harrison said Monday. “We actually played a pretty good game. The score wasn’t a great indication of how close that game was. But it was encouraging to see everybody take their techniques from coaching and bring them into Sunday.”

“I think that there are some things in there defensively from a technique standpoint that I’ve seen,” coach Matt Patricia said Monday, “maybe over the last couple weeks or maybe the last four weeks, that have definitely improved, especially in some of our fundamentals up front, playing with our hands, playing with good pad level. Doing certain things to get off blocks, things like that defensively that I think are showing up.”

Patricia also noted “an overall better understanding” of the scheme throughout the season. But most obvious difference has been the addition of Harrison.

He has been the key to the defensive transformation the Lions have gone through. His presence has turned the run defense from a sorry sieve to a respectable rampart. That, in turn, has helped the entire defense keep the Lions in games against the Rams and the Chicago Bears.

“It’s just like last week,” Harrison said. “We played a pretty good game for a majority of the game. It was just some of those plays in the game where some technique was lost.

“You can blame it on some calls in the game. But on their touchdown run, (Rams center Austin Blythe) held me, but at the same time I shouldn’t it’s still a play I should have made. I was depending on the ref to make that call and it shouldn’t happen.”

The final test will come in the final quarter for the Lions’ defense, which faces the NFL’s two worst offenses in the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills the next two weeks. If the defense can lead the way, the Lions just might be able to build some momentum heading into next season.

“It’s all about confidence if a guy can gain some confidence from some wins,” Harrison said. “It’s hard to gain confidence when you’re losing. We need to just stay in it and be able to go into the offseason on a good note.”

Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is slow to get up after a tackle by Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald during the second half on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions running back LeGarrette Blount runs the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford looks to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia pats Taylor Decker on the head while on the sidelines during the second half on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Ford Field in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press